Vertical disengagement prevention car coupler



Oct. 4, 1955 w. J. METZ/GER 2,719,634

VERTICAL DISENGAGEMENT PREVENTION CAR COUPLER Filed Sept. 27, 1952 4Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. ML L /AM J M5 7265/? A TTORNEY Oct. 4, 1955w. J. METZGER 2,719,634

VERTICAL DISENGAGEMENT PREVENTION CAR COUPLER Filed Sept. 27, 1952 4Sheets-Sheet 2 ITS-4 I7 ,37 3, 29 23 29 23 I F 1 l0 I 3! I 30c 3/ I 2%i'i' 31 W' e W. H as I MI I H 1 ii 1.1: s H u y I "m w 30c INVENTOR. 344 IH W/LL/AM J Msrzem BY 32 F 40 $7 30 30b ATTORNEY- Oct. 4, 1955 w. J.METZGER 2,719,634

VERTICAL DISENGAGEMENT PREVENTION CAR COUPLER Filed Sept. 27, 1952 4Sheets-Sheet 3 27b 5- as as 3 h HIHH IN VEN TOR. W/LL/AM J METZGERATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1955 w. J. METZGER 2,719,634

VERTICAL DISENGAGEMENT PREVENTION CAR COUPLER Filed Sept. 27, 1952 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. -W/LL/AM J METZGER A TTORNE Y United StatesPatent VERTICAL DISENGAGEMENT PREVENTION CAR COUPLER William J. Metzger,East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to National Malleable and Steel CastingsCompany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September27, 1952, Serial No. 311,844 18 Claims. (Cl. 213-153) This inventionrelates to railway car couplers and, more particularly, to the featureof an auxiliary support shelf having the functions of supporting amating coupler against dropping onto the track in the event of a pulloutand assisting in preventing telescoping of cars during collisions,derailments and other abnormal service conditions.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved couplerconstruction embodying such an auxiliary support shelf and which willpermit the couplers to be produced by the use of the presentmanufacturing operations and equipment, and will permit the shelf meansto be quickly and easily applied to the couplers.

Another object is to provide an improved coupler having a support shelfthereon of the attachment type and in which the shelf is of a relativelysimple and lightweight construction adapted to be easily and directlyapplied to an existing coupler substantially without any alterationthereof and which, in its applied position, defines a concavity forminga substantially flush downward extension of the knuckle-receiving recessof the coupler head.

A further object is to provide a support shelf as an attachment adaptedfor application to a coupler head and which attachment, in its simplestform, comprises connected upright and lateral walls of which the uprightwall is a continuous wall of a generally uniform height and having acurvature extent of approximately 90 defining a forwardly facingconcavity and the lateral wall forms the bottom or floor of theconcavity and whose connected rear edge is substantially coextensive inarcuate length with the curvature extent of the upright wall.

As another object, this invention provides an improved coupler in whicha preformed support shelf attachment of the form just above mentioned isconnected to the coupler head by weld means, and in which one or morelocating projections of the shelf attachment assist in locating the samein proper position against the coupler head.

Still another object is to provide an improved coupler having thereon asupport shelf of the attachment type comprising connected lateral andupright walls and in which the support shelf includes a mounting bossand is attached to the coupler by the entry of such boss in a recess inthe underside of the knuckle support lug of the coupler.

Yet another object is to provide a novel support shelf attachmentcomprising connected lateral and upright walls and including angularlydisposed upright wall portions adapted for two-plane locating engagementwith a depending portion on the underside of the coupler head to whichthe attachment is applied.

As an additional object, this invention provides a novel.

2,719,634 Patented Oct. 4, 1955 port lug of the coupler head and asecond boss projecting laterally from one of the upright wall portionsand received in a hole of the depending portion of the coupler head.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent in thefollowing detailed description and in the accompaying sheets of drawingsin which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing support shelf attachment devices of thepresent invention applied to a pair of mating couplers, the couplersbeing shown in outline only;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the lower portion only ofone of the couplers of Fig. 1 with the shelf attachment in its appliedposition thereon;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the lower portion of thecoupler with the knuckle removed and showing the shelf attachmentmounted thereon;

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing one of the two couplers of Fig. 1 with thesupport shelf attachment thereon and also showing, in outline only, acoupler of another type in mating position therewith;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section taken through theshelf and adjacent coupler portions, the view being taken on sectionline 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a similar fragmentary transverse vertical section taken onsection line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a top and front perspective view showing the support shelf indetached relation;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the support shelf in detached relation;

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the support shelf;

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the support shelf;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary front elevation showing a modified form ofsupport shelf attachment and the lower portion of a coupler to whichthis modified shelf has been applied;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side elevation of such shelf and coupler asseen from the guard arm side of the latter;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary bottom view of such shelf and coupler;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through the shelf andadjacent portion of the coupler as indicated by section line 14-14 ofFig. 13;

Fig. 15 is another fragmentary vertical section thereof,

taken on section line 15-15 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a top plan view showing the modified support shelf attachmentof Fig. 11 in detached relation; and

Fig. 17 is a front elevation of such shelf.

Different specific forms of the novel support shelf attachment device ofthis invention are applicable to various different forms of couplers. Byway of example,

Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive illustrate one form of this novel support shelf10 and show the same applied to a coupler engagement with the coupler11. In Fig. 4, an A. A..R.

standard E coupler 13 is shown in mating engagement with the Tightlockcoupler 11 having the support shelf 10 thereon. Figs. 11 to 17 inclusiveshow a modified form of support shelf 14 applied to an A. A. R. standardE coupler 15.

The Tightlock couplers 11 and 12, and the support shelves 10 appliedthereto, are of identical construction and, hence, one only of thesecouplers, namely the coupler 11, will be described in detail. Thecoupler 11 comprises a head 17 having laterally spaced forwardlyextending projections comprising a gathering wing 18 and a guard arm 19which are of a construction to provide for interlocking engagement withthe guard arm and gathering wing of a mating coupler thereby preventingrelative vertical displacement between two coupled couplers. The portionof the head 17 which is located intermediate the gathering wing 18 andthe guard arm 19 is formed with a forwardly facing transversely curvedknuckle-receiving recess 20 and a knuckle-supporting lug 21 which has onits underside a recessed pin-supporting portion 21 It will be understoodthat the knuckle 16 is pivotally connected to the coupler head by avertical pivot pin 22 (shown in Fig. 3) in the usual manner. The pin isdisposed in an upside down position with its head 16 received in therecess in portion 21. Pin 22 is normally held in position by means of acotter extending through its upper end. An auxiliary support orretaining means for pin 22 is provided by a pin 38 which is insertedthrough portion 21 and underlies the head of pin 22.

The coupler head 17 also comprises a depending portion or projection 23located on the underside thereof at a point immediately rearwardly ofthe knuckle-receiving recess 2th. The depending projection 23 includesangularly disposed upright longitudinal walls 24 and transverse wall 25to which further reference will be made hereinafter. The upright frontor transverse wall 25 is provided with a hole 26, to which furtherreference will also be made hereinafter. Hole 26 may be drilled intoexisting couplers but preferably will be cast into new couplers.

As best seen in Figs. 7 to the support shelf 10 is in the form of aunitary member and comprises, in general, a pair of connected uprightand lateral walls 29 and 30, respectively, of which the upright wall 29is a continuous wall having, at one end thereof, a substantiallystraight end portion 2% pointing in a lateral direction, that is, in adirection substantially normal to the longitudinal center line of thecoupler 11. The upright wall 29 is defined at its other end by asubstantially straight end portion 29 pointing substantially in aforward direction, that is, in the direction of the longitudinal centerline of the coupler ll. Intermediate the ends 29 and 29, the uprightwall 29 is a continuous curved wall having an arcuate extent ofapproximately 90 and defining a forwardly facing concavity 31.

The horizontally disposed lateral wall 30 is continuously connectedalong the rear edge 30 thereof with the lower portion of the uprightwall 29 and such connection extends continuously through the 90curvature extent of the upright wall. The lateral Wall 3% defines thebottom or floor of the forwardly facing concavity 31 and has its frontedge 39' substantially laterally aligned with the end surface 29 at theforward end of portion 29 of the upright wall 29. Front edge 349preferably is disposed slightly rearwardly of the coupling line of thecoupler so as to avoid any interference with the corresponding edge ofthe shelf of an opposing coupler. The support shelf 1 also includes alaterally extending auxiliary attachment means 32 integrally connectedwith the upright wall 29 adjacent the front end 29* of the latter.Attachment means 32 carries an upright main mounting boss 33 which has atransverse opening 34 extending substantially diametricallytherethroug'h. At the front of its upper end this boss is provided witha chamfer or bevel 35.

The upright wall 2') of the support shelf 10 is of a generally uniformheight for substantially its full length and, at an intermediate pointthereof, is provided with a re'a'rwardly projecting upright rib 36. Therib 36 and the end portion 29 of the upright wall 29 constituteangularly disposed upright wall portions located in two intersectingvertical planes and adapted for positioning or locating cooperation withthe depending projection 23 of the coupler head 17, as will be furtherdescribed here'- inafter. At a point between the rib 36 and the end 29the upright wall 29 is provided with a second boss 37 which extendsrearwardly therefrom and -is of a size and shape for positioningengagement in the hole 26 of the depending projection 23.

The concavity 31 of the support shelf 10 has substantially the samecontour as that portion of the knucklereceiving recess 20 which islocated immediately adjacent to the knuckle-supporting lug 21 of thecoupler head 17. When the support shelf 10 is mounted on the coupler 11,it is located against the underside of the coupler head 17 in a positionsuch that the concavity 31 forms a sub stantially flush downwardcontinuation of the knucklereceiving recess 20 with the lateral wall 30forming the bottom or floor of such extension recess. When the supportshelf 10 is attached to the coupler head 17 in this position, thelateral wall 30 will form a support or floor for the knuckle of themating coupler of the non-interlocking type such as the standard Ecoupler shown at 13 in Fig. 4, in the event of excessive downwarddisplacement of the non-interlocking coupler relative to the Tightlockcoupler. Thus within the limit of its strength shelf 10 will precludedisengagement of these couplers in a vertical direction and preventtelescoping of the cars. Also shelf 10 will support the mating coupleragainst dropping down onto the track in the event such mating coupler isaccidentally pulled out of its associated car.

The above-mentioned upright boss 33 and the rearwardly extending secondboss 37 of the support shelf 10 represent one form of connecting meansby which this novel support shelf can be connected with the coupler head17. The bosses 33 and 37 are located on the support shelf 10 in suchpositions that when the shelf is applied to the underside of the couplerhead 17 with the concavity 31 forming a downward extension of theknuckle-receiving recess 20, as just explained above, the boss 33 willbe received in the recess in pin-supporting portion 21* and the secondboss 37 will be received in the hole 26 of the depending projection 23.

Upon movement of the second boss 37 into the hole 26, the locating wallportions 36 and 29* come into a two-plane positioning engagement withthe side and front faces of walls 24 and 25 of the depending projection23. In applying shelf 10 to the coupler the boss 37 is first enteredinto hole 26, with boss 33 at this point being disposed just below andsubstantially aligned with the recess in pin-supporting portion 21. Nextthe boss 33 is raised into the recess in portion 21 to complete themovement of the shelf into position. Movement of the boss 33 into thehole 27 is facilitated by the chamfer 35 While an annular bevel orchamfer 37 provided on the second boss 37, facilitates the assemblymovement thereof into the hole 26.

When the support shelf 10 has been thus applied to the underside of thecoupler head 17, the aforementioned pin 38 is inserted through theexisting transverse opening 39 in portion 21a and through the transverseopen ing 34 of the main boss 33 to secure the shelf in place.

Although the support shelf 10 has been described above as including themain and second bosses 33 and 37, it should be understood that, ifdesired, these can be omitted and such omission will result in a moresimplified form of the support shelf which, in all other respects, isidentical with the support shelf 10 and which simplified support shelfcan be connected with the coupler 11 by weld means extending alongportions of the upright Wall 29 which are in contact with the undersideof the coupler head when the shelf is in place. The proper positioningof this simplified form of support shelf against the underside of thecoupler head 17, is facilitated by the above-mentioned twoplane locatingengagement of the upright wall portions 36 and 29* with the side andfront walls 24 and 25 of the depending projection 23.

As shown in the drawings, the side edge 30 of the lateral Wall 30 of thesupport shelf 10 is provided with an undercut or bevel 40 for clearancepurposes and for guiding engagement with another support shelf which maybe encountered on certain other forms of couplers which may come intomating engagement with the coupier 1,1.

As mentioned above, Fig. 4 of the drawings shows an E coupler 13 inmating engagement with a Type H Tightlock coupler 11 equipped with thisnovel support shelf 10. As is shown in this view, the shelf of thecoupler 11 will provide a support for the knuckle 41 of the coupler 13when these couplers are in this mating engagement. The shelf 10 willeffectively support the coupler 13 in the event the latter is pulled outof its car and will also prevent excessive relative verticaldisplacements between these two mating couplers during abnormal serviceconditions.

From the foregoing description of the support shelf 10, and theattachment thereof to the coupler head 17 by means of the main andsecond bosses 33 and 37, it will be seen that this support shelf is of avery simple construction and can be quickly and easily applied to thecoupler 11. It will, likewise, be seen that when the support shelf 10 isconnected with the coupler 11 by means of the bosses 33 and 37, it canbe quickly and easily detached from the coupler whenever desired. Whenthe support shelf does not include the bosses 33 and 37 but is of theform intended to be welded to the coupler head 17, it is quickly andeasily located in correct position against the coupler head by thetwo-plane locating cooperation of the upright wall portions 36 and 29with the side and front walls of the depending projection 23 and isreadily secured in place by means of welding.

As already indicated above, Figs. 11 to 17 inclusive show a modifiedattachment shelf 14 intended for application to an E coupler 15. Thecoupler includes a coupler head 42 having a guard arm 43 and a lug 44for pivotally supporting a knuckle. Intermediate the guard arm 43 andthe lug 44, the coupler head 42 is provided with a forwardly facingtransversely concave knucklereceiving recess 45 adapted to receive theknuckle of an adjacent mating coupler. The recess 45 correspondssubstantially in location, shape and curvature extent with theabove-mentioned knuckle-receiving recess of the coupler 11.

The modified support shelf 14 is generally similar to the support shelf10 in that it comprises connected upright and lateral walls 46 and 47,respectively, of which the upright wall 46 is curved and defines aforwardly facing concavity 48 having a curvature extent of approximately90 and the horizontal lateral wall 47 is connected with the upright wallalong the lower edge of the latter and forms the floor of the concavity.The support shelf 14 is provided with indexing lugs or locatingprojections for cooperation with the coupler head 42, in this instance,two such locating projections 49 and 50.

The locating projection 49 comprises a laterally and rearwardlyextending arm projection of the upright wall 46 and is provided,adjacent its extreme end, with an offset upstanding locating finger 51.The locating projection 50 extends substantially radially rearwardlyfrom the upright wall 46 adjacent the midpoint thereof and is providedwith an upstanding locating finger 52. The upright wall 46 of thesupport shelf 14 has an upwardlysloping incline 53 thereon, as shown inFigs. 11 and 17, to follow the contour of the underside of the couplerhead 42.

When the support shelf 14 is applied to the coupler 15, it is placedagainst the underside of the coupler head 42 with the locating fingers51 and 52 extending into a substantially hooked engagement with shoulderportions of the coupler head (as particularly seen in Figs. 14 and 15)and with the top edge of the upright wall 46 engaging the lower surfaceof the coupler head immediately rearwardly of the knuckle-receivingrecess 45. The support shelf 14 is secured to the coupler head 42 inthis position by weld means 54 extending along the upper edge of theupright wall 46 and along portions of the locating projections 49 and50.

When the support shelf 14 has been applied to the coupler 15 in thelocation and manner just described above, the concavity 48 will form asubstantially flush downward continuation of the knuckle-receivingrecess 45, with the lateral wall 47 forming the floor of such extensionrecess and providing a support for the knuckle of a mating coupler. Theside edge 47 of the lateral wall 47 may be provided with an undercut orbevel 47 which will afford clearance for, and produce guidingcooperation with, another support shelf of a coupler which may come intomating engagement with the coupler 15.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, it willnow be readily understood that this invention provides a support shelfdevice of a novel form which can be readily applied to various standardforms of couplers and which will serve the purpose of preventingexcessive vertical displacements between such couplers during abnormalservice conditions and will effectively support a pulled-out coupleragainst dropping down onto the track. Additionally, it will be seen thatthe standard couplers for which this novel support shelf has beendevised, can be produced by the operations and equipment which are nowbeing used by the manufacturer and that the attachment of the supportshelves thereto can be quickly and easily accomplished.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the useof such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize thatvarious modifications are possible within the scope of the inventionclaimed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a car coupler having a head including a forwardly facingknuckle-receiving recess adapted to receive the knuckle of a matingcoupler, a preformed attachment shelf device comprising connected wallsincluding an upright wall defining a concavity and a laterally extendingbottom wall, a plurality of locating means extending rearwardly fromsaid upright wall and engaging portions of said head, and meansconnecting said shelf device with said head, said concavity forming adownward extension of said knuckle-receiving recess and said bottom wallforming the floor of the extension recess.

2. In a car coupler, a head having a forwardly facing transverselyconcave knuckle-receiving recess and a depending projection on theunderside of said head, a preformed coupler supporting shelf comprisingconnected walls defining a concavity and including a transverse bottomwall and a pair of angularly disposed upright wall portions, and meansconnecting said shelf with said head, said upright wall portions havingtwo-plane locating engagement with said depending projection such thatsaid concavity forms a downward extension of said knucklereceivingrecess and said bottom wall forms a floor for the extension recess.

3. In a car coupler, a head having a forwardly facing transverselyconcave knuckle-receiving recess and a de pending projection on theunderside of said head pro vided with a horizontally extending hole, apreformed coupler supporting shelf comprising connected walls defining aconcavity and including a transverse bottom wall and a pair of angularlydisposed laterally and rearwardly extending upright wall portions, saidshelf being disposed with said upright wall portions in two-planelocating engagement with said depending projection and said concavityforming a continuation of said knuckle-receiving recess extendingdownwardly to said bottom wall, and means connecting said shelf withsaid head including a boss carried by the laterally extending uprightwall portion and engaging in said hole.

4. In a car coupler having a head including a forwardly facingknuckle-receiving recess adapted to receive the knuckle of a matingcoupler, a preformed attachment shelf device comprising connected wallsincluding an upright wall defining a concavity and a laterally extendingbottom wall, said shelf device being disposed against said head at theunderside thereof such that said concavity forms a continuation of saidknuckle-receiving recess extending downwardly to said bottom wall, andweld means along said upright wall and connecting said shelf device withsaid head.

5. In a car coupler, a head, a knuckle, means pivotally mounting saidknuckle on said head including a recessed lug on said head, said lugbeing disposed beneath the knuckle pivot means, said head having aknuckle-receiving recess therein adapted to receive the knuckle of amating coupler, a preformed attachment shelf device comprising connectedwalls including a curved upright wall defining a concavity and alaterally extending bottom wall, said shelf being disposed against saidhead at the underside thereof such that said concavity forms acontinuation of said knuckle-receiving recess extending downwardly tosaid bottom wall, and means attaching said shelf to said head comprisinga boss connected with said shelf and received in said recessed lug.

6. In a car coupler, a head, a knuckle, means pivotally mounting saidknuckle on said head including a recessed lug on said head, said lugbeing disposed beneath the knuckle pivot means, said head having aknucklereceiving recess therein adapted to receive the knuckle of amating coupler, a preformed attachment shelf device comprising connectedwalls including a curved upright wall defining a concavity and alaterally extending bottom wall, said shelf being disposed against saidhead at the underside thereof such that said concavity forms acontinuation of said knuckle-receiving recess extending downwardly tosaid bottom wall, and means attaching said shelf to said head comprisinga boss connected with said shelf and engaging in said recessed lug and aretaining pin extending transversely through said lug and said boss.

7. In a car coupler, a head, a knuckle, means pivotally mounting saidknuckle on said head including a recessed lug on said head, said headhaving a knuckle-receiving recess therein adapted to receive the knuckleof a mating coupler, said head also having a depending projection on theunderside thereof, a preformed coupler supporting shelf comprisingconnected Walls defining a concavity and including a transverse bottomwall and a pair of angularly disposed laterally and rearwardly extendingupright wall portions, said shelf being disposed with said upright wallportions in two-plane locating engagement with said depending projectionand said concavity forming a continuation of said knuckle-receivingrecess extending downwardly to said bottom wall, and means attachingsaid shelf to said head comprising a boss connected with the shelf andreceived in said recessed lug.

8. In a car coupler, a head, a knuckle, means pivotally mounting saidknuckle on said head including a recessed lug on said head, said headhaving a knucklereceiving recess therein adapted to receive the knuckleof a mating coupler and said head also having a depending projectionlocated on the underside thereof and provided with a hole, a preformedcoupler supporting shelf comprising connected walls defining a concavityand including a transverse bottom wall and a pair of angularly disposedlaterally and rearwardly extending upright wall portions, said shelfbeing disposed with said upright wall portions in two-plane locatingengagement with said depending projection and said concavity forming acontinuation of said knuckle'receiving recess extending downwardly tosaid bottom wall, and means attaching said shelf to said head comprisinga boss connected with the shelf and engaging in said recessed lug and asecond boss carried by one of said upright wall portions and engaging insaid hole.

9. In a car coupler, a head, a knuckle, means pivotally mounting saidknuckle on said head including a recessed lug on said head, said headhaving a forwardly facing transversely concave knuckle-receiving recesstherein adapted to receive the knuckle of a mating coupler,

ell)

till

said head also having a depending projection on the underside thereoflocated adjacent to but rearwardly of.

with said concavity forming a substantially flush continuation of saidknuckle-receiving recess extending downwardly to said bottom wall, andmeans attaching said shelf to said head comprising a boss connected withthe shelf and engaging in said recessed lug and a projection carried bysaid laterally extending locating portion and engaging in said hole.

10. In a car coupler having a head including a forwardly facingknuckle-receiving recess adapted to receive the knuckle of a matingcoupler, a preformed attachment shelf device comprising connected wallsincluding an upright wall defining a concavity and a laterally extendingbottom wall, said shelf device being disposed against said head at theunderside thereof such that said concavity forms a continuation of saidknuckle-receiving recess extending downwardly to said bottom wall,indexing lugs connected with said upright wall at spaced points thereofand projecting therefrom in angular relation thereto and having locatingengagement with portions of the underside of said head, and weld meansalong said upright wall and lugs connecting said shelf device with saidhead, said indexing lugs having upstanding fingers thereon extendinginto overlapping relation to the lug-engaged portions of said head.

11. A support shelf for attachment to a coupler head, comprising aunitary member having a curved continuous upright wall defining ahorizontally curved concavity on one side of the member and a laterallyextending wall connected to the upright wall at the lower edge thereofand forming a floor for said concavity, the surface of said upright wallon the concave side thereof being a substantially unbroken smooth flatsurface, said upright wall on the convex side thereof having a pluralityof rearwardly extending projections for locating said shelf relative toa coupler head.

12. A support shelf for attachment to a coupler head, comprising acurved continuous upright wall defining a concavity, a laterallyextending wall connected to the upright wall at the lower edge thereofand forming a floor for said concavity, and an upright mounting bossconnected with said shelf and spaced laterally of said upright wall.

13. A support shelf for-attachment to a coupler head, comprising acurved continuous upright wall defining a concavity, a laterallyextending wall connected to the upright wall at the lower edge thereofand forming a floor for said concavity, attachment means extendinglaterally from said upright wall adjacent one end thereof, and anintegral upstanding boss on said means.

14. A support shelf for attachment to a coupler head, comprising acurved continuous upright wall defining a concavity, a laterallyextending wall connected to the upright wall at the lower edge thereofand forming a floor for said concavity, an upright mounting bossconnected with said shelf at a point intermediate the upper and lowerends of said upright Wall, said boss being spaced laterally of one endof said upright wall, and a second boss carried by said upright wall andprojecting rearwardly therefrom adjacent its other end.

15. A support shelf for attachment to a coupler head, comprising acurved continuous upright wall defining a concavity, a laterallyextending wall connected to the upright wall at the lower edge thereofand forming a floor for said concavity, an upright mounting bossconnected with said shelf and located in adjacent laterally spacedrelation to one end of said upright wall, a second boss carried by saidupright wall and projecting rearwardly therefrom adjacent its other end,and an upright locating rib projecting rearwardly from said upright wallat a point intermediate the ends of the latter.

16. A support shelf for attachment to a coupler head, comprising acurved continuous upright wall defining a concavity, a laterallyextending wall connected to the upright wall at the lower edge thereofand forming a floor for said concavity, an upright lug projectingsubstantially radially rearwardly from said upright wall at a pointintermediate the ends thereof, and an angular arm formed as an extensionof said upright wall at one end thereof.

17. A support shelf for attachment to a coupler head, comprising acurved continuous upright wall defining a concavity, a laterallyextending wall connected to the upright wall at the lower edge thereofand forming a floor for said concavity, an upright lug projectingsubstantially radially rearwardly from said upright wall at a pointintermediate the ends thereof, and an angular arm formed as an extensionof said upright wall at one end thereof, said lug and angular arm eachhaving an upstanding finger at the top thereof.

18. A support shelf for attachment to a coupler head, comprising ahorizontally curved continuous upright wall defining a concavity, alaterally extending wall connected to the upright wall at the lower edgethereof and forming a floor for said concavity, and means extendingrearwardly from said upright wall for positioning said shelf relative toa coupler head, the upper end of said upright wall being inclinedcomplementally to the underside of a coupler head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

